Abstract

Kant's definition of "interest" in terms of a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction (in Section 2 of the third Critique) builds upon, yet goes beyond, his previous notion of interest as a rational principle of action (in the ethical writings). This paper seeks to show, through textual exegesis and reference to Kant's general principles, how that newer definition is meant to encompass two broad categories of interest which underlie the whole Critical philosophy — (I) human interests which find their fulfillment in actions upon the world, and (II) human interests which find their fulfillment elsewhere than in such external actions — as well as how that newer definition plays a unifying role in the filling out of Kant's system.